Shirley Native Makes a Difference in Memphis

For most college students, summer means a break from classrooms, textbooks and exams. For Shirley native Tylar MacIntyre, it meant rolling up his sleeves and heading south to help young people facing some of life’s toughest challenges.

MacIntyre spent his summer in Memphis, Tennessee, interning with Youth Villages, a national nonprofit serving children and young adults struggling with behavioral and emotional challenges.

A SUNY Cortland graduate with dual majors in psychology and criminology, MacIntyre worked at the organization’s Bartlett residential campus. There, he gained the kind of experience that cannot be found in a lecture hall.

Interns worked directly with children ages 6 to 17, helping them pursue personal goals, organizing recreational activities and, perhaps most importantly, offering encouragement and setting a positive example.

MacIntyre was one of just 63 college students selected from across the country. This year’s class represented 37 colleges and universities in 23 states. More than 650 people applied for the highly competitive program.

“This year’s group fully embraced the opportunity to gain experience working with the youth in our care,” said Luke Self, Youth Villages’ managing director of recruiting.

The nonprofit launched its internship program in 2000 and hopes the experience becomes the starting point for careers devoted to helping young people and families. Many former interns have returned after graduation to take full-time positions with Youth Villages.

For MacIntyre, the journey from Shirley to Memphis offered much more than another line on a résumé. It was an opportunity to put his education to work, learn firsthand from professionals and make a meaningful difference in the daily lives of children who need steady guidance.

Now celebrating its 40th year, Youth Villages employs about 5,000 people and served more than 50,000 children and young adults last year.